US Embassy opens vast student visa slots for Indian students amid uncertainty

To assist Indian students who want to study in America, the US Embassy has opened up a number of student visa appointments across the Indian consulates. The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is one of the largest diplomatic missions in the world, overseeing four consulates located in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

The ustraveldocs website is the one-stop shop for students looking for a US visa. Everything you need to know about applying for your nonimmigrant visa for travel to the United States is all in one place. This includes information and links relating to the required documentations, required photographic information, and technique for paying the visa application fee, as well as how to schedule your interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate General.

In terms of wait time for a U.S. visa, the Department of State provides a monthly update (usually the last working day of the month) on Average Wait Times for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants, including the projection for next month visitor visa interviews. The Global Visa Wait Times page provides further details as to the current wait time for a US visa interview.

The United States is the leading destination for international students studying abroad, including students from India. However, a crackdown on student visas by the Trump administration appears to have shaken that student community.

The number of U.S. student studying abroad has dropped considerably in the past year, putting the United States in potential decline as a study abroad destination.

Based on a report by the Association of American Universities, Boston College Professor Chris R. Glass examined SEVIS data, and reported an 11.33 percent decrease in the quantity of international students studying in the United States between March 2024 and March 2025. To what extent this can be attributed to having gone with Trump, is unclear.

For students pursuing their studies in the US, the OPT program is crucial as it allows them to gain work experience in American companies. Nevertheless, there is a possible threat to the program's continuity. US legislators have put forth a measure in Congress named ‘Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025’ aimed at terminating the Optional Practical Training Program.